Column: LeBron’s return is more than just basketball

Employees of the Horseshoe Casino in Cleveland toss powder in the air outside the casino shortly after NBA basketball star LeBron James announced his return to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. James tosses powder in the air as a pregame ritual.

Photo by The Associated Press

By Adam Thompson, Sports Editor

Published: Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 06:18 PM.

I remember that dark, depressing July evening four years ago. It feels like July 8, 2010 was just yesterday.

It was the night LeBron James said those seven words that were etched into people’s minds like it was lyrics from an annoying song.

I was sitting at my apartment, eyes glued to the television set, nervously watching, as ESPN dubbed the spectacle, “The Decision.”

Here’s what went through my mind:

There’s no way the home state hero, who grew up 40 miles from downtown Cleveland, could embarrass the town and its diehard fans on national TV. Would he actually leave the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that drafted him first overall in 2003?

I remember that dark, depressing July evening four years ago. It feels like July 8, 2010 was just yesterday.

It was the night LeBron James said those seven words that were etched into people’s minds like it was lyrics from an annoying song.

I was sitting at my apartment, eyes glued to the television set, nervously watching, as ESPN dubbed the spectacle, “The Decision.”

Here’s what went through my mind:

There’s no way the home state hero, who grew up 40 miles from downtown Cleveland, could embarrass the town and its diehard fans on national TV. Would he actually leave the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that drafted him first overall in 2003?

I was one of those thousands of fans who took a lighter and lit a flame to my LeBron James, No. 23 Cleveland Cavaliers jersey.

For three years, Cleveland fans held a grudge at the four-time league MVP. It wasn’t that he departed for the Miami Heat, but rather in the manner in which he left.

The television show on ESPN was followed by the obnoxious celebration where he stated he was going to win…“Not one…not two…not three…not four…”

Well you get the point.

But we were all immature and new to it, to having the best player in the game, from our neck of the woods, leave us with nothing and move on to win a championship elsewhere.

But with three words, all is forgiven.

On Friday, in an essay to Sports Illustrated, LeBron James stated, “I’m coming home.”

That’s right, the greatest player in basketball, a native of Akron, Ohio, is returning to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With that letter, he won back the heart of a fanbase that hasn’t witnessed a championship in 50 years, since the 1964 Jim Brown-led Cleveland Browns.

“When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission,” James said in his letter. “I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what’s most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio.”

It was a mess in 2010.

LeBron made a mistake by his television show on ESPN. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert was wrong with his emotion-filled rant in that letter that degraded LeBron. The fans, including myself, shouldn’t have set those jerseys on fire.

But on Friday, we all made peace.

And it’s more than just about basketball. It’s about rebuilding an economy in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It’s about the biggest free agent on the market choosing to return.

It’s about LeBron James wanting to raise his kids where he grew up and making a difference in the state that he first picked up a basketball.

“Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio,” LeBron wrote. “It’s where I walked. It’s where I ran. It’s where I cried. It’s where I bled. It holds a special place in my heart.

“People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I’m their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me. I want to give them hope when I can. I want to inspire them when I can. My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.”

During LeBron’s first seven seasons in the NBA, with the Cleveland Cavaliers, I saw many of his games – in Cleveland, Charlotte, Detroit, New York City and Washington, D.C.

I still attended Cavalier games after he bolted for Miami.

Boy was there a different vibe in downtown Cleveland, and the state in general. LeBron’s presence alone brought revenue to small businesses, restaurants and bars.

Oh, and the games were sold out nightly.

Cleveland was, and now is, the place to be.

The former St. Vincent-St. Mary product is back, more mature and ready to lead championship-starved Cleveland to a title.

James, a 10-time NBA All-Star, is going to bring excitement, energy and pride back to Northeast Ohio.

I, for one, am ecstatic about the return of LeBron James.

“I always believed that I’d return to Cleveland and finish my career there. I just didn’t know when,” LeBron wrote. “After the season, free agency wasn’t even a thought. But I have two boys and my wife, Savannah, is pregnant with a girl. I started thinking about what it would be like to raise my family in my hometown.

“I looked at other teams, but I wasn’t going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland. The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy.”

Adam Thompson is the sports editor of the Sun Journal. He can be contacted at 252-635-5669. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.